All-angle milling machine attachment



May 16, 1944- H. RICHARDS 2,349,199

ALL ANGLE MILLING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed Feb, 16, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H6. 0^. F/G. 7l

, INVENTOR /z/ /P/cf/A R05 May 16, 1944 J. H. RICHARDS 2,349,199

ALL ANGLE MILLING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 16, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 y INVENTOR. JAA/5 HMH/1R06 ATTO Patented May 16, 1944 ALL-ANGLE MiLLING MACHINE ATTACHMENT .lames H. Richards, Glendale, Calif., assigner to Fray Machine Tool Co., a corporation Application February 16, 1949, Serial No. 319,290

2 Claims. (Cl. Sii-16) My invention relates to and has for an object the provision of an improved al1 angle, full .uni versal milling attachment which is adapted to be mounted on the overarm of a milling machine, and is capable of many and certain micrometric operations heretofore impossible oi performance with otherl types of milling attachments, and moreover, is subject toa more convenient, accurate and eiiicient use in any of its possible positions and'operations.

One of the important purposes of my invention is the pro-vision of an attachment of the character described wherein the major axes of adjustment and the parts and elements thereof are so constructed, compactly arranged and closely coupled as increase the strength and stability of the attachment Without sacrificing the full universal and all angle adjustments and primarily, to insure accuracy of Work n all positions.

One of the important features of my attach ment is the provision of an improved quill arrangement by means of which the tool may be fed to the Work at all angles and positions in a much more convenient and accurate manner than heretofore possible.

Another important provision of my invent-ion' is that c-f a novel stop means for limiting the feed and particularly the depth of feed of the tool in a most accurate and eiiicient manner;

Another purpose of my invention is lto provide an attachment of the character` described in which independently and selectively operable feed means for the quill will make possible accurate and micrometric feeding of the tool to the Work to best suit the particular Work at hand and many milling operations not otherwise possible.

A further purpose is to provide an attachment ci the character described Which may be readily and easily disposed in an out of the Way position when it is desired to use the milling machine proper, exclusively of the attachment;

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a milling machine attachment of the character described `which includes an impro-ved construction of the spindle housing and mounting means therefor, which latter provides a rotative joint on a horizontal axis close and at right angles to the axis of the overarm to facilitate an accurate positioning of the attachment at any angle desired.

Among other features of improvement my invention includes the advantages of such added stability and strength as to enable the Work to be finished in one operation or out, and also provides Ifor a highly desirable micrometrio feed whereby small' and other work may be accomplished in a highly satisfactory manner. Again, the attachment lmakes possible grinding, lapping, and drilling and manyother voperations by reason of the stability, ruggedness,` adjustments and feeding provisions as hereinbefore pointed out, and is further improved in that all wearing parts may be properly adjusted to compensate for Wear in a particularly novel manner.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, my invention consists in the particular construction of combination and relative arrangement of the parts and elements as shown in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and nally defined in the claims hereto appended. It is to be understood that minor changes als to size, proportion and arrangement of parts and elements of the invention may be made as required without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims hereof.

' in the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary sectional and partial elevation of the attachment of my invention particularly' showing the novel quill and feeding means therefor, the spindle being horizontally disposed;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the complete attachment embodying my invention, as when the spindle is vertically disposed; Fig. 3 is an elevational view showing the belt tightening and belt changing of the attachment;

Fig. i is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the quill feeding mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. v6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the spindle housing particularly showing, a novel stop means for regulating the feed of the quill, partsV of said means being in section;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary and partly sectioned elevation of the housing and means as shown in Fig. 6, with the cover plate removed;

Fig. 8 is a. fragmentary sectional View of the Worm feed for the `quill` as when in operative position; y

Fig. '9 is a View similar to Fig. 8 showing the worm feed as when inoperative;

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary elevation of the end play adjustment means for the Worm feed shaft;

Fig. ll is a fragmentary elevation of the setting means for the stop for controlling the feed of the'quill;

Fig. l2 is a sectional view of the variable speed cone pulley unit;

Fig. 13 is a sectional View taken on the plane of line I3-l3 of Fig. l2;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the control means for the variable speed cone pulley;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the mounting means for spindle housing, parts being sectioned for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary elevation View of detailed parts of the mounting shown in Fig. 15.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown in detail one embodiment of the milling attachment of my invention as mounted on the overarm A of a milling machine B, so as to be fully universally movable and positioned at all angles relative thereto.

Generally the attachment of my invention lncludes an improved adapter sleeve l rotatably mounted on the overarm A, a novel mounting or attaching means 2 for adjustably joining the spindle housing 3 to the adapter sleeve, an irnproved adjustable quill 4 Vfor the spindle 5, an improved micrometric stop means 6 for controlling the feed or adjustment of the quill, a novel feed or adjusting mechanism 'I for the quill, a motor 8 supported on an extension arm 9 of the spindle housing, a cone pulley drive means l including a belt Illa and variable speed cone pulleys Il and IIa and other features and constructions which will be hereinafter more fully described.

The adapter sleeve I as shown in Figs. l and is split and mounted on the overarm A so as to be rotatable thereon throughout 360 degrees and adjustable axially thereof as desired. Clamping bolts I2 provide for securing the sleeve in the desired position of adjustment as is customary in the art. One end of the sleeve is provided With a circular series of calibrations I3 for cooperation with an indicating mark on the adjacent end of the overarm to facilitate accurate setting of the attachment at the desired position or angle,

The novel means for adjustably mounting the spindle for rotation throughout 360 degrees on a horizontal axis at right angles to the axis of the sleeve, is shown in Figs. 1, 15 and 16 and includes a dat face I4 on one side of the sleeve I and a cooperating plate-like member l5 formed integral with one side of the spindle housing between the ends of the latter. The outer face of the member I5 engages the flat face I4 which latter is formed with an annular dovetailed groove I'I. The sleeve I is provided with an opening I9, see Fig. 16, which communicates with the groove I1 whereby bolts may be positioned with their dovetailed heads 2| slidably mounted in the dovetailed groove I1 and their shanks inserted through the plate like member I5 as best seen in Fig. 15. Nuts 22 provide for securing said bolts in place whereby to hold the spindle housing on the sleeve I for adjustment relative lthereto as aforementioned. These nuts are readily accessible to the operator as will be apparent from Fig. 15 and provide for clamping the spindle housing to the sleeve to maintain desired adjustments. The member I5 is of circular form and is calibrated as at 23 on its periphery to facilitate desired accurate adjustment of the spindle housing and associated parts about the axis of the joint between the sleeve and said housing. It is important to note that the spindle housing is close coupled to the sleeve and overarm whereby the major axes of adjustment of the attachment are brought close together, the attachment is made stronger and more compact and stable, and a greater accuracy of operation thereof is thus assured. The efficiency of the joint between the sleeve I and spindle housing is increased by the provision of a centering bearing boss 24 provided on the sleeve for engagement in a bearing socket 25 in the member I5 on the housing.

Adjustable axially in the spindle housing is a quill 4 which supports bearings 26 and 21 for the spindle 5 and provides for extension and retraction of the spindle with respect to the housing for feeding the tool to the work or positioning the tool as desired. The outer end portion of the quill has a seated fit as at 28 with the corresponding portion of the housing which is split as at 29 whereby a clamping screw 30 operated by lever 30 may be operated to releasably hold the quill against movement relative to the housing. For most of its length, however, the quill is reduced and screw threaded exteriorly as at 3l. The bearing 2B is held seated in a counterbore at the outer end of the quill by means of a nut 32 screwed onto spindle 5 whereas the bearing 2l is similarly held in the innerend of the quill by means of an annular plug 33 screwed into the end of said quill (see Fig. l). The spinde 5 extends beyond the nut 32 and is provided with a suitable chuck 34 for holding a tool such as the one 35 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The inner end of the quill is adjustable in a bushing 31 which is screwed into the corresponding end of the spindle housing as shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 15 the quill is splined as at 38 in the spindle housing so that it may be extended and retracted without turning relative to said housing.

The feeding or adjusting means for the quill includes a beveled drive pinion threadedly mounted on the screw threaded portion of the quill as shown in Fig. 1, so that when rotated the quill will move axially of the housing. This drive pinion is carried byfa worm gear 4I bearing against a shoulder 42 on the quill and adapted to be operated by a worm 43 on a shaft 44 supported. in eccentrically adjustable bearings 45 and 4G. The shaft and worm are mounted in an open side 48 of the spindle housing as shown in Fig. 7, but are enclosed by a removable cover plate 49 as shown in Fig. 6. The bearings for the worm shaft are supported in extensions 5I and 52 of the housing and cover plate. The open side of the housing permits of assembling and disassembling of the quill feed means particularly the gears thereof, when the cover plate is removed as shown in Fig. '7.

On one end of the shaft 44 is a hand wheel 53 for turning the shaft whereby through the worm gearing, the drive pinion will be rotated to feed the tool to the work.

The worm feed mechanism for the quill is rendered operative and inoperative by turning the eccentric bearings 45 and 46 in such manner that the shaft 44 and worm 43l are moved towards and away from the worm gear 4| as best shown in Figs. 8 and 9. When the worm 43 is moved towards the gear 4I, it will drivingly en gage it as shown in Fig. 8, andwhen reversely moved it will be disposed out of driving position as shown in Fig. 9. In this connection it is seen that the bearings 45 and 46 are connected to one another for simultaneous movement by means of a bar 55.

The bearings 45 and 46 are turned orv moved for rendering the worm gearing operative and inoperative by means of a ring 55 secured on the bearing l5 by means of a set screw 5l as shown in Fig. 4. The ring t is provided with opposed ears E8 having adjustable stop screws 59 thereon adapted to engage oppositesides -of a detent barrel all which latter' is carried by a free ring Gl surrounding and rotatable relative to bearing lili (see 'l and 5, and 7). A spring loaded detent 62 is carried by the' barrel d and is adapted to'seat in openings 63 and 64 in a plate 55 xed to the spindle housing. When the detent is seated in the lower opening the bearings te and 4S are so positioned as to dispose the worm it out of mesh with the worm. gear lll as shown in Fig. 9. To set the worm feed for operation, the det-ent is vpulled out of the opening G3 and swung upwardly as permitted by the free ring @l and due to the engagement of the barrel @il with the stops 5S on the ring 5G, the latter will turned whereby both the eccentric bearing will be turned and the shaft 46 will be moved so that the worm 43. thereon will mesh with the gear 4l as shown in Fig. 8. At the time the gears come into mesh the detent will snap into the upper opening Sli whereby tc hold the gears in mesh. It is seen that the detent is retracted from the opening @il and moved downward to seat in the opening 63 for the purpose'of disengaging the worm 43 from the gear lll, the eccentric bearings being turned due to such movement of the detent and thereby moving the shaft /Ml and worm gear 43 into the inoperative position shown in Fig. 9.

' It should now be noted vthat the worm feed mechanism of my invention will provide for an accurate micrometric feeding of the tool to the work by extending the quill with the spindle supported thereby as hereinbefore pointed out. The ring 55, the free ring 5, adjust-able stops 59 and associated parts make possible adjustments of the worm gearing to the desired meshing in compensation for wear or for controlling the feeding operation of the 'worm feed. On the worm shaft lf/l, in a position clearly visible to the operator as shown in elia-nd 7. is calibrated dial $8 the calibrations of which are readable against a mark on the bearing carried ring 56. This will facilitate an accurate micrometric feeding of the tool.

as shown in Figs. 6 and '7 and l0, the end bearing i5 is axially adjustable to regulate end play of the shaft A flanged bushing l!! is freely rotatable on the shaft M and threaded into the bearing 46, the flange thereof abutting the extension 5f of the spindle housing. Rotation of this bushing will cause axial movement of the bearing l whereby to control end play of the shaft Ml. A. set pin 'H is inserted into alined openings 'i2 and 'l2' in the flange bearing respectively, for locking the bearing to the flange. This pin is removed when the bearing All is to be adjusted.

I have also provided a lever operated feed mechanism for the Quill whereby the tool may be fed to the work. This mechanism includes a shaft 'i4 mounted in a bearing l5 on the spindle housing as shown in l, and 6 and a beveled gear 'Hi fixed on the shaft so as to be in constant mesh with the drive pinion 40 (Figs. l and '7). A clutch member l'l is axially adjustable and freely rotatable on the reduced outer end lll' of the shaft 'M and supports an operating lever` lll. This lever is inoperative to turn the shaft until pushed inwardly so that the clutch member l1 is engaged with a clutch member 'i9 fixed on the shaft. The clutch 11 is held in its operative and inoperative positions by a set screw Bti as shown in Fig. l, arranged to engage in annular grooves 8l in the shaft, so that the latter may turn freely. When the worm feed is used the lever is locked in inoperative position as shown in Fig. 1 and although the shaft will rotate relative to the clutch member ll, the lever will not be turned. When in operative position the lever provides for rotating the shaft and operating the gears 'I6 and 4E to feed the tool as desired, the worm gearing being disengaged when the lever operated feed is employed. l

An opening 82 is provided in the spindle housing for rendering visible a graduated'scale vE23,-

on the quill whereby the feed of the quill may be gaged as and 6.

rlhe micrometric sten means 5 for controlling the feed of the quill and tool, as here employed' comprises (Figs. 2, 6 and li.) a lateral extension: $4 on the outer end of the quill, to which extension is xed a screw G5 paralleling the spindle' housing and movable in an opening 85 in a stop lug 85 on said housing. This screw travels with the quill and is provided with a stop sleeve-'8l adjustably supported thereon for contacting the stop lug i to limit the outward extension of the quill as per the setting of the sleeve. A set screw 8E! provides for holding stop sleeve set position d and ll) and is engaged in a groove 3@ in the screw so that when loosened permits of axial movement of the sleeve on the screw but holds the sleeve against turning. Since the sleeve is not threaded I provide an operating nut Sil, threaded on the screw and relatively rotatably coupled with the sleeve by meansof a set screw 9i mounted on the sleeve engaged in an annular groove on the reduced lower end 93' of the nut, said nut being seated in a counterbore of the sleeve. The stop sleeve will be moved with the nutV and may therefore be disposed in the desired position to limit the-depth or extent o1", feed of the tool. Thefnut provided with calibrations il) readable' against a mark Sid on the sleeve whereby to accurately set the stop sleeve.

As particularly shown in l., arm 5l has a hub portion 95 on one end rotatable on the inner end of the spindle housing and adapted to be held against rotation by means of a set screw 2G. through a passage Q5' in a bearing supporting boss ill' on said arm and is splined to the pulley il which latter is mounted on a bearing S3 carried by the boss. The other pulley lla is mounted on the motor which is adjustably mounted on the outer end of the arm 8 for purposes of changing cr tightening the belt in a manner well known in the art. The motor is pivoted at 99 on the arm by means of the slots i053 and screws itil may swung in an arc to provide for changing the belt and tightening it. The r0- tative connection of the arm B with the spindle housing provides for disposing the motor-beltpulley drive unit in the best position to suit the particular work at hand.

It will now be seen that by reason of the sleeve mounting on the overarm, the attachment may be rotated through 360 degrees relative to said arm and that by reason of the rotative joint with said sleeve providing an axis at right angles to the axis of the overarm, I may secure, other adjustments through 360 degrees of arc and may therefore dispose the Spindle at all angles and desired. This is shown in Figs. 2v

The spindle 5 is extended, freelyv positions as desired to best apply the tool to the particular work. An important provision is that of feeding the tool to the work in an all angle full universal attachment such as I have provided, and the accomplishment of this by means of an axially adjustable quill which also reinforces the machine and improves the operation thereof. The selective feed device operated by the hand wheel 53 and lever I8 respectively, make possible a much more advantageous use of the attachment with greater accuracy of performance than is possible by other known devices.

As shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, I have provided a modified form of variable speed cone pulley III) consisting of two pulley sections I and ||2. 'I'he section ||2 is keyed as at I|3 to the spindle ||4 and has one or more belt grooves, whereas the section III likewise has a plurality of belt grooves, and is coupled with the shaft independently of the section II2 by means of planetary gearing generally designated I I5. This planetary gearing is disposed within the hollow interior of the pulley section I I I, and has certain gears xed to said section and others supported on a plate-like member III which is loosely mounted on the shaft I4.

The member ||6 is disposed between the motor supporting arm II'I (corresponding to arm 9) and the pulley section I I I so that it may be coupled to the supporting arm II 1 independently of section I I I, to render the planetary gearing operative for controlling the speed of the pulley section I I I, or may be coupled to the section I II independently of the arm I|1 to render the pulley sections operative in the usual manner, independently of the planetary gearing except that said gearing then acts as a coupling means for the two pulley sections without modifying the speed.

A clutch pin I|8 is slidable into and out of a socket Il9 in the pulley section III so that it may be disposed in position, shown in Fig. 12, for coupling the member I I6 with said pulley section, or may be moved into position shown in Fig. 14 for coupling the member I I6 with the motor supporting arm III whereby the member IIS is held against turning and the planetary gearing becomes operative for controlling the speed of the pulley section III. As here provided, an opening is provided inthe member IIB for reception of the clutch pin ||8 and a, socket |2I is provided in the arm III for reception of said clutch pin.

An operating screw |22 is slidably carried by y the arm II'I so that it may be shifted into and out of engagement with the clutch pin I I8. The clutch pin is provided with a threaded opening |23 at one end so that the screw |22 may be connected thereto for shifting the clutch as aforesaid. A spring loaded detent |24 is provided for holding the clutch pin in its various positions as will be seen in Fig. 14. A set screw |25 provides for releasably holding the screw |22 against longitudinal movement as desired.

It is now apparent that this variable speed sectional cone pulley may be substituted for the usual cone pulley and by reason of the planetary gearing and sectional construction will make possible a greater variety of speeds and a particularly desirable changing of speeds Without shifting the belt although further speed changes may be accomplished by the usual placing of the belt in different pulley grooves.

It should be noted that the fiat face I4 on the sleeve and the cooperating member I5 on the spindle housing are spaced from the axes of the sleeve and housing respectively, distances not greater than the diameters of said sleeve and housing. In other words, the sleeve and housing have cooperating flat joint faces formed as integral parts thereof and directly on their outer sides rather than on parts or elements which extend outwardly therefrom as has heretofore been the practice. This particular close coupling of the sleeve, overarm and spindle housing makes for the desired increased rigidity and accuracy and provides a condition in which the lever arm of distorting stresses is reduced to minimum, Wherefore a complete milling or other operation may be made with one out and greater accuracy of operation is assured in all positions of the tool.

I claim:

1. A milling machine attachment comprising: a spindle housing, a quill movable axially of and in said housing, a spindle rotatably supported in the quill so as to be bodily moved therewith whereby a tool on the spindle may be fed to the work, an extension on said quill, an apertured extension on said housing, a screw fixed to the quill and extending freely through the aperture in the extension of the housing and a stop member adjustable on the screw and disposed to engage the extension on the housing for controlling the feeding of the quill and spindle, said stop member being splined to said screw, and an adjusting nut threadedy engaged with said screw and rotatably coupled with said stop member for moving said member along said screw.

2. A milling machine attachment comprising: a spindle housing, a quill movable axially of and in said housing, a spindle rotatably supported in the quill so as to be bodily moved therewith whereby a too-1 on the spindle may be fed to the work, an extension on -said quill, an apertured eX- tension on said housing, a screw fixed to the quill and extending freely through the aperture in the extension of the housing and a stop member adjustable on the screw and disposed to engage the extension on the housing for controlling the feeding of the quill and spindle, said stop member being splined on said screw by a means including a. set screw which is also operable for holding the stop member in set position, an adjusting nut threadedly engaged with said screw' and having an annular groove therein, and a set screw on the stop member engaged in said groove for rotatably coupling the nut with the stop member.

JAMES H. RICHARDS. 

